Restoration of Alveolar Epithelial Function as a Therapeutic Strategy for Acute Lung Injury

Abstract

Acute lung injury (ALI), and its severe form, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), is a common disorder with a high mortality rate (40 %). Only two supportive strategies have shown to improve survival in patients with ALI/ARDS, namely lung protective ventilation that reduces stretch of the lungs and a fluid conservative strategy [1, 2]. Unfortunately, molecular-based therapies aimed at improving the outcome of these patients have so far been unsuccessful.